GP Forklifts | Forklift Parts, Johannesburg and nationwide
Most parts conversations jump straight to “genuine or aftermarket” and skip past a third option that often makes more financial sense than either: quality second-hand or refurbished parts. Knowing when each of the four options actually fits your situation saves both money and headaches.
The four options, plainly explained
- New genuine (OEM): built to the manufacturer’s exact specification, at the highest price point, with the longest expected service life.
- New aftermarket: third-party manufactured to fit the same application, at a lower price, with quality that varies meaningfully by supplier.
- Refurbished second-hand: previously used components, inspected, cleaned, and tested before resale, at a significant discount to new.
- Generic used, unrefurbished: parts pulled from decommissioned equipment with no testing or quality process, the cheapest option and the riskiest.
When new genuine parts are worth the premium
Safety-critical systems, mast components, brakes, hydraulics, and anything on a forklift still under manufacturer warranty. This isn’t the place to economise, and we cover the reasoning in more depth in our guide to genuine versus aftermarket parts.
When refurbished second-hand parts make real financial sense
An older forklift nearing the end of its economic life is often a poor candidate for expensive new components, since you’d be spending new-part money on a machine that might only run for another year or two anyway. Properly refurbished second-hand parts, inspected, cleaned, and tested rather than simply pulled and resold as-is, offer a middle ground: meaningfully cheaper than new, while still giving you confidence the part will actually perform. Cast iron and steel components in particular often have service lives that outlast the machine they were originally fitted to, which is exactly why refurbishment makes sense rather than scrapping them.
We stock tested, refurbished second-hand parts across all major brands for exactly this reason, and every component goes through inspection and testing before it’s offered for sale rather than being sold as-is.
Building a decision framework for your fleet
- Young forklift, under warranty: new genuine, to protect the warranty and the resale value.
- Mid-life forklift, safety-critical component: new genuine or, at minimum, a proven aftermarket supplier.
- Mid-life forklift, wear item or non-critical part: aftermarket or refurbished second-hand, whichever is available faster and cheaper.
- Ageing forklift nearing replacement: refurbished second-hand wherever safety allows, since spending new-part money here rarely pays back before the machine is retired.
Total cost of ownership beats the invoice total, every time
The right question isn’t “which option is cheapest on this invoice”, it’s “which option gets the most productive hours out of this forklift for the money.” That calculation changes depending on the forklift’s age, how critical the part is, and how long you actually plan to keep the machine in the fleet. If you’re planning ahead for a whole fleet rather than one repair at a time, our wholesale parts pricing often changes which option makes sense too, since bulk new pricing can close the gap with second-hand on common wear items.
Quick answers
Is second-hand the same as generic used?
No, and this distinction matters. Refurbished second-hand parts have been inspected, cleaned and tested before resale. Generic used parts pulled straight from decommissioned equipment carry no such guarantee.
Should I mix genuine and aftermarket parts on the same forklift?
It’s common and generally fine, provided safety-critical systems stay genuine or proven-aftermarket, and the mixing is a deliberate decision rather than whatever happened to be cheapest at the time.
Does using second-hand parts affect a forklift’s resale value?
It can, particularly for a buyer planning to resell soon. For a forklift you intend to run to the end of its working life, the resale consideration matters far less than the cost saving.
Not sure which route makes sense for your fleet?
Tell us the forklift’s age, the part, and how long you plan to keep the machine, and we’ll recommend honestly rather than upselling. Call GP Forklifts on 010 110 1819, or email sales@gpforklifts.co.za, and we’ll sort out the rest.
